Makes me sick to my stomach…

[Vek96]

….seeing Calipari win a game against a decent team. I despise him.

I remember Arkansas fans despising him. Funny, they have amnesia about that now.

I’m not concerned though. He’ll choke when it matters. Zero doubt. His ahole will pucker up tighter than a snare drum in the tournament. He’ll let some lesser talented team bait him into a slow tempo, and he’ll piss away another overwhelming talented team to an early exit.

 

[loublue22_rivals308424]

what really sickens me is not being able to watch college basketball at all because we are such a joke. football is over basically so saturdays are just full of nothing. I guess this Spurs/OKC game might be alright later.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Hot take: Don’t care if Arkansas has a great year, as long as we beat them. We have our own problems to worry about and if we can fix those I’ll be happy. I do not hate Cal and I don’t actively root against him or cheer for him.

 

[UKbrassowTipIn93]

….seeing Calipari win a game against a decent team. I despise him.

I remember Arkansas fans despising him. Funny, they have amnesia about that now.

I’m not concerned though. He’ll choke when it matters. Zero doubt. His ahole will pucker up tighter than a snare drum in the tournament. He’ll let some lesser talented team bait him into a slow tempo, and he’ll piss another overwhelming talented team to an early exit.

I dont really hold the spite ppl have. He gave us 10 great years then stayed 5 too long with let downs. I think ppl are seeing now, his teams always played hard.

Most ppl Never really understood how he views the season or philosophy...as long as you make the tournament, individual season games dont really matter, its all just about improvement and trying to get them to come together at the end.

Yeah, he could have an early exit....unless he plays pitino, then he'll beat him per usual, just like he did last year

 

[blackcat714]

what really sickens me is not being able to watch college basketball at all because we are such a joke. football is over basically so saturdays are just full of nothing. I guess this Spurs/OKC game might be alright later.

women’s Volleyball that’s where it’s at

 

[ABLCommenter]

The obsession with Calipari is weird. It’s not that deep.

 

[bbnkat02]

Hot take: Don’t care if Arkansas has a great year, as long as we beat them. We have our own problems to worry about and if we can fix those I’ll be happy. I do not hate Cal and I don’t actively root against him or cheer for him.

Let's be candid. We couldn't beat him last year. We have to go to Fayetteville where GOOD UK teams haves lost. I doubt we have ability this season.

What's sickening are the hypocrites pining for him. THAT is what's sickening.

 

[Tri-Countycat]

We would really be fine with Cal doing OK at Arkansas if only Mitch would have hired a killer to replace him instead of an unproven project.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Let's be candid. We couldn't beat him last year. We have to go to Fayetteville where GOOD UK teams haves lost. I doubt we have ability this season.

What's sickening are the hypocrites pining for him. THAT is what's sickening.

Yeah, I actually feel bad for fans like that man. I don’t see them as bad —- they loved Cal and some of them were young and don’t know anything else. Then they see Pope struggle and think that’s what non-Calipari UK looks like.

As for me, I don’t think it’s a secret that I’m a little bit of an unhealthy basketball-obsessed nerd. I was ready for the Calipari era to end long before it did. I’ll never hate the man, and I appreciate what he did while he was here. Just not my cup of tea.

 

[bbnkat02]

Yeah, I actually feel bad for fans like that man. I don’t see them as bad —- they loved Cal and some of them were young and don’t know anything else. Then they see Pope struggle and think that’s what non-Calipari UK looks like.

As for me, I don’t think it’s a secret that I’m a little bit of an unhealthy basketball-obsessed nerd. I was ready for the Calipari era to end long before it did. I’ll never hate the man, and I appreciate what he did while he was here. Just not my cup of tea.

Cal at his best was a great coach for us. Cal his last 4 or so years was a TERRIBLE coach for us.

 

[Formerly Imafan4evr_]

I’ve had a change of heart on him. Actively wanted him to lose every game last year, but pretty indifferent this year really. He hasn’t needled at Kentucky in the media or anything near like I had expected.

The state of our program and the strange insistence by Pope that issues like Barnhart, JMI, recruiting are all incredible, majestic, revolutionary (or insert any other Pope buzzword for “good”) bothers me more than Calipari at this point. I can’t be worried whether someone else’s house is in order when ours is burning rubble.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Cal at his best was a great coach for us. Cal his last 4 or so years was a TERRIBLE coach for us.

His offense was still a lot better than people give him credit for. His defense fell off a cliff as the college game became more advanced. I’ll always have a soft spot for any of our former coaches. But I’m a softie, prone to nostalgia.

 

[bbnkat02]

I’ve had a change of heart on him. Actively wanted him to lose every game last year, but pretty indifferent this year really. He hasn’t needled at Kentucky in the media or anything near like I had expected.

The state of our program and the strange insistence by Pope that issues like Barnhart, JMI, recruiting are all incredible, majestic, revolutionary (or insert any other Pope buzzword for “good”) bothers me more than Calipari at this point. I can’t be worried whether someone else’s house is in order when ours is burning rubble.

Thats why I was hoping he'd go ANYWHERE else but a blue blood or the SEC. Cal at say St. John's or Syracuse would've been fun to watch.

 

[bbnkat02]

His offense was still a lot better than people give him credit for. His defense fell off a cliff as the college game became more advanced. I’ll always have a soft spot for any of our former coaches. But I’m a softie, prone to nostalgia.

Gonna disagree on that. His offense became drive into trees and float up a prayer with 4 seconds left on the shot clock. When he wasn't landing talented dudes, that stopped working.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Gonna disagree on that. His offense became drive into trees and float up a prayer with 4 seconds left on the shot clock. When he wasn't landing talented dudes, that stopped working.

Here were his offensive rankings in KenPom for his last five seasons:

2020 - 24th
2021 - 84th
2022 - 5th
2023 - 17th
2024 - 7th

Here were his defensive rankings in KenPom for his last five seasons:

2020 - 52nd
2021 - 35th
2022 - 36th
2023 - 68th
2024 - 109th

 

[bbnkat02]

Here were his offensive rankings in KenPom for his last five seasons:

2020 - 24th
2021 - 84th
2022 - 5th
2023 - 17th
2024 - 7th

Here were his defensive rankings in KenPom for his last five seasons:

2020 - 52nd
2021 - 35th
2022 - 36th
2023 - 68th
2024 - 109th

Yeah 2024 got better due to Reed and Rob. But we couldnt guard a traffic cone 2021- yeesh. I knew we were bad that year but damn.

 

[theBlues]

I knew Cal's team would be pretty good this year so it doesn't bother me at all. But our team...

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Yeah 2024 got better due to Reed and Rob. But we couldnt guard a traffic cone 2021- yeesh. I knew we were bad that year but damn.

Yeah, but the numbers extend beyond that year. If we had a good defense some of those other years, we may have been elite. I still look at the 2022 team as a missed opportunity. We were significantly better on offense than defense each of those years except 2021. It’s another one of those myths that most of BBN say but don’t deep dive: “Calipari’s offense started to struggle, standing around on offense, yada yada. Truth is, defense fell off a cliff.

 

[CRZ4UK]

NIL happened for Cal at the right time. He had 4 starters come back. That never happened the whole 15 years he was here. Without guys making 2 million in college they all would have left last year. We are comparing apples to Oranges.

 

[bbnkat02]

NIL happened for Cal at the right time. He had 4 starters come back. That never happened the whole 15 years he was here. Without guys making 2 million in college they all would have left last year. We are comparing apples to Oranges.

Well, it didn't help the boosters here were done with him- and rightfully so. We couldn't generate any NIL- it was pathetic.

Cal got a shot in the arm by going to Arky. It was just time for us to part ways. We were both tired of each other's bull-****.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Cal at his best was a great coach for us. Cal his last 4 or so years was a TERRIBLE coach for us.

Cal's last years are condensed into the one terrible year in '21 on this forum.

Forgetting the '20 season where we won the SEC by 3 games the 3 seasons after '21 were a 2 seed, a 5 seed and a 3 seed. Cal didn't fall off except in getting upset in the tournaments. Which were terrible upsets. But they don't change the seasons. If the seasons don't matter then why is everyone upset now?

Cal is simply a great coach. He is deservedly in the HoF. He took UMass to the FF. UMass!! And it wasn't a one hit wonder kind of thing. He built that team from nothing over a few years. He's taken every school he's coached to the FF. Except Ark. And he might just get them there?

His time was up here because of the player's first thing. Everyone here wanted a program first coach and understandably so.

We do have a program first coach in spades now. But it's the wrong guy. That has nothing to do with Cal. Two things can be true. It was time for Cal to go and Pope was the wrong hire.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Well, it didn't help the boosters here were done with him- and rightfully so. We couldn't generate any NIL- it was pathetic.

Cal got a shot in the arm by going to Arky. It was just time for us to part ways. We were both tired of each other's bull-****.

I know that's the narrative here but it's not true. I know everyone of the major boosters and none were done with Cal. There were rumors of a rift between Cal and the Crafts. There was no truth to that all. One of the largest boosters to UK basketball went to Canada with the team in the summer of '22. I believe that was '22. That guy stopped donating when Cal left. He's started back this season with personal NIL. Not thru UK. He did have to clear with JMI. But he used his money where he wanted.

Even is one sees Cal as a problem, he's not our problem. And as much as I want Barney gone, he is not our problem either. Except for the hiring.

The problems with this team lay squarely on the head coach. Anything else is just blame shifting.

 

[loublue22_rivals308424]

Cal's last years are condensed into the one terrible year in '21 on this forum.

Forgetting the '20 season where we won the SEC by 3 games the 3 seasons after '21 were a 2 seed, a 5 seed and a 3 seed. Cal didn't fall off except in getting upset in the tournaments. Which were terrible upsets. But they don't change the seasons. If the seasons don't matter then why is everyone upset now?

Cal is simply a great coach. He is deservedly in the HoF. He took UMass to the FF. UMass!! And it wasn't a one hit wonder kind of thing. He built that team from nothing over a few years. He's taken every school he's coached to the FF. Except Ark. And he might just get them there?

His time was up here because of the player's first thing. Everyone here wanted a program first coach and understandably so.

We do have a program first coach in spades now. But it's the wrong guy. That has nothing to do with Cal. Two things can be true. It was time for Cal to go and Pope was the wrong hire.

Kentucky is not a regular season job, you have to do it in March too. Were we supposed to be happy in '22 because we blew out the two title game participants in the regular season while we had the most embarrassing tournament loss in school history? Cal won one SECT game and one NCAAT game in FOUR years. That is beyond unacceptable. Revisionist nonsense that he didn't need to go is just people mad at the current situation. For that, you can thank Mitch who got us in such a bad, no-leverage situation with Cal that we had to let him walk to a conference rival, than hired this make-a-wish coach we currently have.

 

[TFCat11]

Simple stuff here… Compare his 5*’s and 1st option Portal picks to UK’s…

I’ll hang up and listen.

 

[rivercatinfl]

what really sickens me is not being able to watch college basketball at all because we are such a joke. football is over basically so saturdays are just full of nothing. I guess this Spurs/OKC game might be alright later.

Army vs Navy

 

[ala_kat2]

NIL happened for Cal at the right time. He had 4 starters come back. That never happened the whole 15 years he was here. Without guys making 2 million in college they all would have left last year. We are comparing apples to Oranges.

^^^^This right here

 

[buc puppet]

I don’t want to hear it. You could see this coming a mile away. Here’s another hot take for ya. It was Mitch that fumbled cal. He had 13 years to build a relationship with his uber successful charismatic coach that he himself hired. Cal ended up on an island and Mitch drove the ship away and left him.

I know he wasn’t finishing seasons strong anymore, but he still had it in him. We are learning every day that cal won the breakup.

 

[Kentucky15]

I dont really hold the spite ppl have. He gave us 10 great years then stayed 5 too long with let downs. I think ppl.ate seeing now, his teams always played hard.

Most ppl Never really understood how he views the season or philosophy...as long as you make the tournament, individual season games dont really matter, its all just about improvement and trying to get them to come together at the end.

Yeah, he could have an early exit....unless he plays pitino, then he'll beat him per usual, just like he did last year

calipari ever had that philosophy ever. Not even close to how he operated. Calipari’s system was to recruit and play freshman so he had to temper our expectations because he knew they would lose a lot and he wasn’t going to adapt. It’s not that he always did this, he didn’t. Calipari wanted you to buy into his nonsense because he knew the losses were going to mount. He wanted Kentucky to accept losing to always maintain himself through the losses coming. Calipari never ever went by that philosophy until the losing was mounting.

Go back to Umass, go back to Memphis. Calipari would be livid during regular games. As I’ve said I’ve sat in on some of his closed practices the guy was a maniac. Even for me it was extreme. He was nuts. So no he wasn’t like that at all, until he needed excuses for losses because he got old and lazy.

,

Yeah, I actually feel bad for fans like that man. I don’t see them as bad —- they loved Cal and some of them were young and don’t know anything else. Then they see Pope struggle and think that’s what non-Calipari UK looks like.

As for me, I don’t think it’s a secret that I’m a little bit of an unhealthy basketball-obsessed nerd. I was ready for the Calipari era to end long before it did. I’ll never hate the man, and I appreciate what he did while he was here. Just not my cup of tea.

I never wanted him here necessarily. I knew a lot about Calipari from my time at UM and knew people very familiar with him. I knew we had to hire him but I knew it would end bad. Calipari ain’t the guy some think he is. Total megalomaniac who cares about nothing but himself. Anyone that knows him personally has always said that.

The day we hired him I had excitement because I knew we were back, but I had a really bad feeling almost like a dark cloud knowing we just handed Calipari the keys to the Kentucky kingdom. He’s a totally untrustworthy guy. And I knew Mitch didn’t want him, so I knew half of his job would be going after him. To the end trying to ruin Mitch was one of his biggest goals. Not to protecting of this program.

I officially wanted him out in 2017ish after the tournament. By 2020 I wanted to run him out with fire and pitchforks. By 20023 I was disgusted with any fan that still supported him.

There was no excuse retaining him that long if you weren’t going to withdraw his power. And Mitch sat there letting it happen for 5-7 years. We still haven’t recovered from it.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

calipari ever had that philosophy ever. Not even close to how he operated. Calipari’s system was to recruit and play freshman so he had to temper our expectations because he knew they would lose a lot and he wasn’t going to adapt. It’s not that he always did this, he didn’t. Calipari wanted you to buy into his nonsense because he knew the losses were going to mount. He wanted Kentucky to accept losing to always maintain himself through the losses coming. Calipari never ever went by that philosophy until the losing was mounting.

Go back to Umass, go back to Memphis. Calipari would be livid during regular games. As I’ve said I’ve sat in on some of his closed practices the guy was a maniac. Even for me it was extreme. He was nuts. So no he wasn’t like that at all, until he needed excuses for losses because he got old and lazy.


I never wanted him here necessarily. I knew a lot about Calipari from my time at UM and knew people very familiar with him. I knew we had to hire him but I knew it would end bad. Calipari ain’t the guy some think he is. Total megalomaniac who cares about nothing but himself. Anyone that knows him personally has always said that.

The day we hired him I had excitement because I knew we were back, but I had a really bad feeling almost like a dark cloud knowing we just handed Calipari the keys to the Kentucky kingdom. He’s a totally untrustworthy guy. And I knew Mitch didn’t want him, so I knew half of his job would be going after him. To the end trying to ruin Mitch was one of his biggest goals. Not to protecting of this program.

I officially wanted him out in 2017ish after the tournament. By 2020 I wanted to run him out with fire and pitchforks. By 20023 I was disgusted with any fan that still supported him.

There was no excuse retaining him that long if you weren’t going to withdraw his power. And Mitch sat there letting it happen for 5-7 years. We still haven’t recovered from it.

I’m a weird guy. Don’t give a damn if the coach is a cannibal if he wins ball games. We point up to the rafters of Rupp and brag about natties and no one cares what kind of men those coaches were, at least I don’t. I didn’t want Cal anymore because of on-court production alone.

 

[tinfoil]

Blah blah blah! Get an education and stay off the sauce.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Cal took us to four final fours and won a national title while at UK.

The Cal hate is just silly.

People sound like the jealous ex here lol.

 

[sk73]

….seeing Calipari win a game against a decent team. I despise him.

I remember Arkansas fans despising him. Funny, they have amnesia about that now.

I’m not concerned though. He’ll choke when it matters. Zero doubt. His ahole will pucker up tighter than a snare drum in the tournament. He’ll let some lesser talented team bait him into a slow tempo, and he’ll piss away another overwhelming talented team to an early exit.

I like him and appreciate what he did while he was here. It was time for him to move on and, I wish him well. Arkansas will be a tough out this year. I wish Pope had even a little of his fire.

 

[Uncle B.S.]

Cal was always about himself and then making sure his guys got paid. After Wagner, sr. he knew he needed them to get paid as soon as possible.
When he got his title, the HOF, and a lifetime $10M annually contract, there was nothing left on his bucket list other than to get Brad a head coaching job, which was never happening here.
The outrageous nil money now allows for 2nd and 3rd year college guys to make more money than a 2 way player or going overseas. So he’s adjusting his position on how early you have to leave.
His ego and the uk fan base were not compatible and after Peavy left he was stuck with dealing directly with Mitch. Why wouldn’t he leave. He got a nice reboot and he’s making the best of it.
It still doesn’t make me happy though.

 

[TJ_Ford]

Hot take: Don’t care if Arkansas has a great year, as long as we beat them. We have our own problems to worry about and if we can fix those I’ll be happy. I do not hate Cal and I don’t actively root against him or cheer for him.

UK is not beating Arkansas this year. Sorry to tell you that, but it ain’t happening.

 

[buc puppet]

calipari ever had that philosophy ever. Not even close to how he operated. Calipari’s system was to recruit and play freshman so he had to temper our expectations because he knew they would lose a lot and he wasn’t going to adapt. It’s not that he always did this, he didn’t. Calipari wanted you to buy into his nonsense because he knew the losses were going to mount. He wanted Kentucky to accept losing to always maintain himself through the losses coming. Calipari never ever went by that philosophy until the losing was mounting.

Go back to Umass, go back to Memphis. Calipari would be livid during regular games. As I’ve said I’ve sat in on some of his closed practices the guy was a maniac. Even for me it was extreme. He was nuts. So no he wasn’t like that at all, until he needed excuses for losses because he got old and lazy.


I never wanted him here necessarily. I knew a lot about Calipari from my time at UM and knew people very familiar with him. I knew we had to hire him but I knew it would end bad. Calipari ain’t the guy some think he is. Total megalomaniac who cares about nothing but himself. Anyone that knows him personally has always said that.

The day we hired him I had excitement because I knew we were back, but I had a really bad feeling almost like a dark cloud knowing we just handed Calipari the keys to the Kentucky kingdom. He’s a totally untrustworthy guy. And I knew Mitch didn’t want him, so I knew half of his job would be going after him. To the end trying to ruin Mitch was one of his biggest goals. Not to protecting of this program.

I officially wanted him out in 2017ish after the tournament. By 2020 I wanted to run him out with fire and pitchforks. By 20023 I was disgusted with any fan that still supported him.

There was no excuse retaining him that long if you weren’t going to withdraw his power. And Mitch sat there letting it happen for 5-7 years. We still haven’t recovered from it.

That was a lot of words. I really just skimmed but that last sentence caught my eye. We have not recovered from it because we made a bad follow up hire. We could have recovered instantly but we fumbled the break up.

Our wife was a 10 for a long time. she got a little older and wasn’t quite as hot. But she was still a hard 7. But we dumped her thinking we would get a 9. But we ended up with a 4.

 

[wildcatdon]

Cal took us to four final fours and won a national title while at UK.

The Cal hate is just silly.

People sound like the jealous ex here lol.

No it’s well deserved.

 

[Kentucky15]

That was a lot of words. I really just skimmed but that last sentence caught my eye. We have not recovered from it because we made a bad follow up hire. We could have recovered instantly but we fumbled the break up.

Our wife was a 10 for a long time. she got a little older and wasn’t quite as hot. But she was still a hard 7. But we dumped her thinking we would get a 9. But we ended up with a 4.

tldr;

Calipari never had a philosphy, as the poster was saying, that it’s okay to lose for a chance at march. That was due to his system becoming hard to win with until march. It was bs.

I never wanted him but knew it was necessary. Knew it would end bad. Name reasons. I know guys at UM from my time there, I know boosters son who knows Calipari also. Personally. More about that if needed.

Mitch waited too long to reign Calipari in. Once it was over, it was over. Calipari isn’t giving up his power after that long. Definitely in a bad spot because of a bad follow up hire. Calipari had to go,not becuse he couldn’t win here anymore (NIL starting changed things), but because he went to war with UK like anyone has ever known him will tell you he eventually does. He will do this at Arkansas too.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Hot take: Don’t care if Arkansas has a great year, as long as we beat them. We have our own problems to worry about and if we can fix those I’ll be happy. I do not hate Cal and I don’t actively root against him or cheer for him.

Arkansas is gonna destroy us. Their guards are going to do us dirty. I hate saying that but they are so much more athletic and can shoot this year to boot.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Cal took us to four final fours and won a national title while at UK.

The Cal hate is just silly.

People sound like the jealous ex here lol.

He also left with a warchest of money owed to him —- regardless of his intent, it set us up to replace him without as much baggage.

(Also, there are some things more important than basketball: Matthew 5:21-22.)

 

[ComebackCats98]

Cal brought a lot of good times to Kentucky. Looks somewhat like the Cal of old. I would have said the mutual parting of ways was good for both parties, but it’s not looking like it on Kentucky’s end this season.